Iowa group to pressure commission on stricter manure spill rules

Organizers for grassroots environmental group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement say they plan to have at least 60 members at the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission meeting to pressure the state for stricter livestock farm regulations.

Iowa CCI wants the state to inspect large-scale farms and force operators to fix problems that can lead to manure spills.

The group also wants the state to issue Clean Water Act permits for the farms and enforce policies that would shut down operations that have repeated manure spills or accidents.

Iowa, which has more than 21 million hogs, has had 76 manure spills in 2013.

The commission, made up of nine people appointed by the governor, is responsible for oversight of Iowa's environmental protection efforts.

It's holding its monthly meeting Tuesday.

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